One hour before my ceremony, I sat in front of my mirror doubting everything I’d ever known. Holy shit. Is this what Bella felt? She was so in love, and this ceremony ruined her life. If she had just given in…No. No, I promised her. I would do what I had to.

“Arwyn, you’re still not dressed?” Ginny’s panicked voice broke me out of my thoughts.

“Sorry, Ginny. I was just thinking.”

She walked over to my wardrobe and slipped a gorgeous blue gown off of the hanger. “Your mother will be looking for you, so we better hurry.”

I shakily stood up and stepped into the dress. Ginny smoothed out the skirt where it cinched from the bodice. The sleeves fell just over my shoulders. Sheer fabric, bedazzled by sapphires, covered my bosom. On any other night, I would’ve felt like royalty—well, happier royalty than I currently did.

“You look beautiful,” Ginny commented, her voice breaking as she sat me down to brush my hair. Her fingers worked double time to transform my long tresses into a crown braid that perfectly framed my face, letting the rest of it fall into soft ringlets at my shoulders.

“Bella, when I grow up I wanna be just like you,” seven-year-old me said as Arabella brushed my hair at the dressing stool.

Arabella laughed, her soft voice floating through our shared bedroom. “You get to be your own person, make your own decisions, Ary. That’s what’s so great about growing up. No one can take that away from you.”

Even at twelve years old, Arabella was wise beyond her years. She had rebelled from the age of thirteen, was the top of her class in both her academic and recreational studies. And I idolized her for every minute of her life.

“Are you ready to go?” Ginny asked.

I glanced at my reflection in the mirror. For a second, I thought I saw Arabella. People always said we looked like twins even though she was five years older than me.

“I need a few more minutes. Tell Mother that I’ll be down at the carriage soon.”

She left the room, and I pulled on a pair of black lace-up boots before walking over to my dresser where my tiara from my parents lay still in its box. I lifted it out and placed it on my head. Tonight already felt like a nightmare. Every time the ruby caught the light, it felt as though it were screaming out “imposter!”

What was that my parents had said at dinner? They had given Arabella a pair of ruby earrings before her ceremony, and she never got to wear them. Taking a deep breath, I rummaged through my closet and pulled out the mahogany jewelry box that had been hidden away for the past five years. Inside, as expected, were a pair of ruby crystal drop earrings. My fingers hesitated over them in anticipation.

Non desistas non exieris. Never give up, never surrender.

“For Bella,” I whispered as I clasped the jewels to my ears.

Only a short while later, I sat sandwiched between my parents as our carriage bounced along the road to the amphitheater in Runswick. My father squeezed my hand.

“You’ll do just fine,” he tried to reassure me.

“I hope you’re right,” I muttered under my breath.

My mother fussed with my hair and I swatted her hand away as she attempted to fix my updo. She always did that when she was nervous, but tonight I was the one who needed to be nervous. My future was only minutes away from being decided.

After what seemed like ages, the carriage lurched to a stop. Our driver opened our doors and offered his hand to each of us in turn. I glanced up at the building. It had been done up in twinkling lights that sparkled in the moonlight.

I sat in anticipation with my knees bouncing up and down as I waited for the announcer to call my name. It was funny, Raydir and I had played the game so many times as children, picking each other’s names out of a hat. But nothing could have prepared me for this moment.

“Arwyn Magnolia Kingston.” My name echoed through the room as all eyes turned toward me.

With a shaky breath, I stood up and walked forward. Each footstep echoed like a sonic boom.

“Are you prepared to make your choice?” the announcer asked.

I glanced back at the crowd, a familiar face hidden in the shadows pulling at my heartstrings. Raydir was here. He was here.

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“Lady Arwyn?”

“Yes, I am.” I took a deep breath, reaching into the bowl that lay before me. “Fortuna caeca est. Fata decernere.” Fate is blind. Let the fates decide.

My eyes widened as I saw the name on the slip of paper, handing it to the announcer. It had to be a mistake. Or a coincidence.

“Lord Darius Benedict Harford.” The room erupted into a sea of applause as Darius stepped forward, a grin plastered on his tanned face.

This has to be a coincidence.

The announcer turned to me. “Do you accept your fate?”

I hesitated, glancing wildly around the room. Raydir was sitting next to his father with an unreadable expression.

Come on Ray, give me a sign. Anything. Tell me not to do this.

Silence.

“Lady Arwyn?”

I tore my gaze away from the audience and back to where the announcer and Darius were expectantly awaiting my response.

“Y-yes,” I managed to get out.

“And Lord Darius, do you accept your fate?”

Darius winked at me. “Yes.”

The announcer clasped his hands together. “Lady Arwyn, Lord Darius. Your fate is sealed.”

My mouth shifted into a grimace, giving a small nod to the crowd before walking away with Darius where we could be alone.

“Lady Arwyn,” he addressed me, lifting my hand to his lips.

“Lord Darius.” Once he lowered my hand, I yanked it out of his grasp. He was a traitor. He could’ve told me who he really was when we first met. I mentally kicked myself for not recognizing him sooner.

“You don’t seem too happy with the choice,” he commented.

I glanced back, craning my neck for any sight of Raydir, but he was nowhere to be found. “You lied to me.”

“I didn’t lie. I simply withheld the information.”

In the crowd I caught a glimpse of blonde hair, then Emilia came into view. I let out a small sigh of relief. As promised, she had shown up to the ceremony. She waved at me frantically.

This was it. Darius was looking at me expectantly again and all I wanted was to get out of there and find Raydir. It had always been Raydir and it was always going to be. Nothing would stand in my way.

“Darius, I’m sorry. I—I have to go,” I said.

He placed a hand on my arm. “This is about the other guy, right?”

I nodded. “Darius, you seem like a great guy. But I can’t—I can’t be your Chosen.”

A low rumble of thunder sounded above us. Darius tipped his head in understanding. “Then you know what happens now, right?”

“I’m fully prepared for it.”

Something flashed in his blue eyes—the same something I saw in Raydir the other day. I didn’t know how to explain it, but I was hesitant to ask about it.

“Then go. Now. There’s only a few days left before the next alignment, so you’ll want to leave quickly.” He lifted my hand to his lips. “I bid you adieu.”

I slipped through the crowd to where Emilia was waiting for me.

“Arwyn!” Her blue eyes scanned my face. “Are you sure you want to go through with this? Turning down Darius Harford, of all people?”

I nodded. “You know I have to do this. I can’t stay here and marry someone I don’t love.”

She sighed. “I understand. I just don’t want to lose you.” She wrapped her arms around me. “Stay safe, okay? And give Ray my best.”

I gathered my skirts and took off at a run, stopping only when I reached our meeting spot. Thunder rumbled softly overhead again. A warning.

I know. God, I know what I’m doing.

“Ray!” I called out. “Are you here?”

Raydir stepped out from behind a tree. “I’m here.”

I ran into his arms. “Ray, I’m so sorry. I said yes, but I can’t go through with any more of it. I can’t marry Darius, I can’t stay in the dukedoms. Not if it means losing you.”

As I babbled, Ray knelt down in front of me. “Arwyn, I didn’t propose to Emilia. We ended our fake courtship just before your ceremony.”

“Really?”

He nodded. “I didn’t propose to her because it would only be to make my father happy. And the only thing that matters to me is if I’m happy and you’re happy.” He pulled a small box out of his pocket and opened it.

I gasped. Inside were two silver rings: one for him, one for me. His was a thick silver band while mine held a delicate heart-shaped ruby stone in the center of the thin silver band.

“Ar, you and I made a promise when we were nine years old that we would be together. I want to give us that opportunity,” he said.

My heart thumped louder in my chest. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to say yes. “Ray, you know what it means by doing this. If we run, you know the consequences.”

“And I’m prepared to take them. This is my chance—our chance—to start over. If the time shadowing my father has taught me anything, Darqua is the only place I can do what I truly want, be with the woman I truly want to be with. I want to be a healer. I want to be an artist! But most of all, I want to be with you.” He looked up at me. “So Arwyn Magnolia Kingston, will you be my forever, love?”

I let a single tear roll down my cheek. “Yes. Yes!”

He stood up and slid the thin band around my finger. Pulling me into a hug, he tangled his hands in my hair and kissed me deeply. As he did, thunder boomed above us for the third time that night, lightning crackled in the sky, and the wind swirled around us. When we looked up at the sky, the five moons appeared slightly askew from one another in a vertical orientation. By their appearance and once morning light hit, we would five days before the Alignment.

Five days before the curse set in.

I wouldn’t regret this. Would I?